Electrode handler



Aug. 2s, 1923.

A. W. GREGG ELECTRODE HANDLER Filed July 16 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 28, 1923.

A. w. GREGG' ELEGTRODE HANDLER Filed July '16 1921 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Aug. 28, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED W. GREGG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WHITINGCORPORATION,

i OF HARVEY, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ELECTRODE HANDLER.

Application nled July 16, 1921.1 Serial No. 485,176.

mon use, for instance the one which is exem-" plified in my prior companion application Serial No. 485,17 5, led July 16, 1921,electric current is conveyed into and returned from the furnace thru comparatively large and heavy carbons extending thru the top of the furnace to the arcing point, within the furnace, which provides heat for melting the metal, and this invention relates to mechanism located outside of such a furnace for conveniently handling these heavy carbons while inthe act of so conveying electric current.

The object ot this invention is to provide a device of this class which can be easily and cheaply built and which the operator can readily operate to adjust the` carbons to the requirements of the furnace.

The invention consists in means for obtaining the foregoing objects and in numerous features and details of construction hereafter-more fully set forth in the specification and claims,

Referring to the drawings in which like numerals designate the same parts thruout the several views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation partially in section of mechanism illustrating this invention in its preferred form.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the pulley mechaism shown at the right hand upper corner of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side View of the mechanism of lFigure 1 looking'at it from the right hand side.

Figure 4 is a general plan view of the fur'- nace equipped with, the mechanism of this invention.l

Figure 5 is a detail plan View of one of the carbon carrying crane arms at approximately the line 5 5.

As fully set forth in detail in said prior application, the furnace includes a box memberl` 10, hearth 12, a central island 14 and removable arched roof 16. In a furnace of this t pe in which the island 14 is oval, there are t ree or more large carbons 18, 20, and

is a frame work or head 36 traversed by par- 22 entering the roof 16, preferably thru water cooling .rings 24 to carry electric current into and away from the furnace at the point 26at the lower end of each carbon where it approaches a hed of carbon 28 supported by the island 14.

As in every electrical device where an are is produced, the carbons entering the furnace have to be continuously fed into the arc area and there burned up. The problem to be solved is to provide a convenient means for' supporting each of the carbons 18, 20

lor 22, in the arcing area 26 adjacent to the carbon 28 and to,-'by feeding itdown, maintain that. relationship between the parts as the arcing continues. That is to say to maintain close and easy adjustment of electrodes under all conditions.

The preferred mechanism includes a vertical tubular post or mast 30 opposite to the carbon which is to be moved, suitably secured on the outside of the furnace box 10 by suitable brackets 32 and 34. Rotatably mounted on the upper end of this tube 30 allel shafts 38, 40, 42 on which are journaled sets of Wheels 44, 46 and a single wheel 48, the latter adjacent to a perforation 50, thru which passes a tension member or rope 52 on one of whose ends is a counter head 54 reciprocatable inside post 30. This rope 52 passes from counterweight 54 over one each of the pulleys 44.` and 46 and thence downward to a suitable fastening device 56 on an arm 58 somewhat resembling a jib crane. Also attached to the fastening device 56 is another rope .60 passing u over another set of pulleys 44--46 and pulljev 48,

and thence extends downward. around a winding` drum 62 suitably mounted on a 'site movement being prevented by ratchet dog 68. When ratchet dog 68 is released the weight of member 58 and parts attached to it will normally carry it downward while the rope unreels from drum 62. If there is any stick in operation the operator may force it down by moving handle 72 in the proper direction Rigidly supporting member 58 is a triangular frame 74, rota-table about post 30 and carrying two pairs of rollers 76 and 78, one roller of each pair located on an opposite side of and bearing against the post 3() in such position that the combination of rollers properly support any load carried by member 58 from this vertical post 36. On the outer end of arm 58 and insulated therefrom at 7 9 is a horizontally extending clamping member 80 supplied with electric current thru wire 82 leading to any suitable source thereof. In the conventional device of the drawing the clamp is effected by tightening the bolt 84.

In the operation of the device one such carbon handler is provided for each carbon which enters the furnace. The operator, after having clamped a carbon in clamp 80, lowers it thru the water cooler 24 and the perforation 86 in roof 16 until itcontacts with carbon 28. The operator then operates handle 72 to slightly raise the member 58 and consequently the carbon until arcing space 26 is formed. Thereafter as the arc burns he manipulates dog 68 and lever 72 to properly lower the carbon to maintain the arc.

Vhen it is necessary to remove the furnace cover 16 the rotating of the frame 36 and of the member 58 about the column 30 makes it possible to swing everything out of the wav.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In mechanism of the class described, an electric furnace, a. carbon entering the furnace, a hollow post at the side of the furnace, a lifting member reciprocably and rotatably mounted on the post, means on the lifting member for attaching it to the carbon, a frame rotatable on the post above the lifting member, sets of pulleys on the frame, a counter weight in the post,a tension member extending from the lifting member, over one set of said pulleys to said counterweght, another tension member leading over other of said pulleys to the lifting member, and means manually controllable for operating the first tension member to effect raising and lowering of the lifting member and attached carbon.

2. In a device of the class described, a stationary post, a load carrying member reciprocable and rotatable on the post, a counterweight reciprocable of the post, tension 'means connecting the weight to the load carrying member, another tension member connected to the load carrying member,

.means manipulating the last tension member to cause movement of the load carrying member, and means supporting the two tension members, intermediate of their ends from the post to permit rotation of the load carrying member about the post.

3. In a device of the class described, a stationary post, a load carrying member, reciprocable and rotatable on the post, a countervveight reciprocable inside the post, tension means connecting the weight to the load carrying member, another tension member connected to the load carrying member, means manipulating the last tension member to cause movement of the load carrying member, and means supporting the two tension members, intermediate of their ends from the post to permit rotation of the load carrying member about the post.

4. In mechanism of the class described, an electric furnace, a carbon entering the furnace, a post at the side of the furnace a lifting member reciprocably and rotatably mounted on the post, means for attaching the lifting memberI to the carbon, a -frame above lthe lifting member, rotatable on the post, anti-friction devices on the frame` a counterweight reciprocable of the post, a tension member extending from the lifting member over one set of said anti-friction devices to said eounterweight, another tension member leading over other of said anti-fricA tion devices to the lifting member, and means manually controllable for operating the first tension member to effect raising and lowering of the lifting member and attached carbon.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

, ALFRED W. GREGG. Witnesses:

J. S. ToWNsENn, HARRY W. BAKER. 

